Abstract This paper examines the intensification of research and development into organic and inorganic insecticidal compounds during the first half of the twentieth century, and the involvement of biologists within the insecticide industry. It attempts to trace the history of resistance research, while highlighting the role of the biologist within the chemical industry prior to the biotechnology era. Specifically, this paper looks at the reaction of two private companies on the finding of resistance to insecticides: Geigy and Bayer. Geigy, who discovered the insecticidal properties of DDT, initially attributed resistance to ineffective application of insecticides or variable external factors. Only after doubling of the amount of DDT had failed to achieve the desired result, did the company undertake a biological research programme in an effort to understand resistance from a biological— as opposed to chemical— perspective. Ultimately, scientists both inside and outside the industry accepted the biological fact of resistance and the realisation that chemical control by itself would not be able to circumvent an insect population's ability to tolerate lethal dosages of chemical insecticides. The shift in the insecticide industry's approach to biological research is instructive in understanding how industry can approach complex issues.

中文翻译：

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化学工业中的生物学：1920 年代至 1960 年代杀虫剂抗性问题的科学方法

摘要 本文考察了 20 世纪上半叶对有机和无机杀虫化合物的研究和开发的加强，以及生物学家在杀虫剂行业的参与。它试图追溯抗药性研究的历史，同时强调生物学家在生物技术时代之前的化学工业中的作用。具体而言，本文着眼于两家私营公司对发现杀虫剂耐药性的反应：Geigy 和 Bayer。发现 DDT 杀虫特性的 Geigy 最初将抗药性归因于杀虫剂的无效应用或可变的外部因素。只有在滴滴涕用量翻倍后，都没有达到预期的效果，公司是否开展了一项生物研究计划，以从生物（而不是化学）的角度理解耐药性。最终，行业内外的科学家们接受了抗药性的生物学事实，并认识到化学控制本身无法绕过昆虫种群耐受致死剂量化学杀虫剂的能力。杀虫剂行业生物研究方法的转变对于理解行业如何处理复杂问题具有指导意义。行业内外的科学家们都接受了抗药性的生物学事实，并认识到化学控制本身无法绕过昆虫种群耐受致死剂量化学杀虫剂的能力。杀虫剂行业生物研究方法的转变对于理解行业如何处理复杂问题具有指导意义。行业内外的科学家们都接受了抗药性的生物学事实，并认识到化学控制本身无法绕过昆虫种群耐受致死剂量化学杀虫剂的能力。杀虫剂行业生物研究方法的转变对于理解行业如何处理复杂问题具有指导意义。